Collapsible crate.



G. L. PERDUE. GOLLAP SIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1912. 1 071 672. Patented Aug". 26, 1913.

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G. L. PERDUE.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.28, 1912.

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GLAYBORN L. PERDUE, 0F THURMAN, OHIO.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

To all ctr/2.0m it may concern Be 1t known that I, CLAYBORN L. PERDUE, a c1t-1zen of the Unlted States, residlng at Thurman, in the county of Gallia and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Impro-vements in Collapsible Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding or collapsible crates adapted for use in the shipment offruit, vegetables, and articles of various kinds, and designed when emptied to be compactly folded for return shipment, thereby materially reducing the cost of transportation of empty crates.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate complete shown set up. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, omitting the top. Fig. 3 is a .vertical longitudinal section through the crate, taken centrally thereof. Fig. 4c is an end elevation of the crate. Fig. 5 is a central cross section through the crate, looking in one direction. Fig. 6 is a similar view, looking in the opposite direction. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section through the top fastener, showing the latter open. Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the fastener folded. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through one of the hinged joints. Fig. 10 is an edge view of the crate when folded.

' The crate contemplated in this invention comprises the four sides 1, 2, 3 and 4;, each of which embodies the uprights or corner post sections 5, to which parallel spaced horizontal slats 6 are connected, the slats and corner post sections or uprights forming the sides of. the crate.

All four sides of the crate are connected, as shown at 7, by staples or screw eyes which are fastened to the corner post sections, the eyes fitting into each other and thereby forming a hinged joint, or folding connection between the crate sides. Any suitable number of hinged joints may be used throughout the length of the corner post sections or uprights to impart the required strength to the crate as a whole.

Secured to the inner faces of opposite sides of the crate are bottom horizontal Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 28, 1912.

PatentedAu 26,1913.

Serie1.No.71"/,571.

cleats 8 adapted to support the removable bottom of the crate. The removable bottom consists of parallel slats 9 which are connected together by means of cross cleats 10 secured to the bottoms of said slats. The end slats of the bottom are made shorter than the remainder of the slats, so as to fit between the corner posts, while the intermediate slats are left of sutlicient length to extend over and rest upon the supporting cleats 8 referred to. In this manner, the removable bottom is effectively supported in the bottom portion of the crate body.

At one side'a fixed stop 11, secured to the inner face of one side of the crate, engages over the central slat 9 of the removable bottom, while at the opposite end the bottom is held by a shiftable stop or latch 12 pivoted, at 13, to that end of the crate opposite the end to which the fixed stop 11 is attached. These two stops securely hold the bottom in its proper position in the crate, while allowing the same to be detached when it is desired to fold the crate.

The top or cover of the crate is constructed in the same manner as the bot-tom and sides; that is to say, the top is composed of parallel slats 14 connected by cross cleats 15, the end slats being made sufiiciently short to fit between the corner posts or uprights of the sides, while the remaining or intermediate slats rest upon the top edges of the corresponding sides of the crate.

In order to hold the top in place on the crate, hinged hasps 16 are connected to opposite ends of the central slat of the top, said hasps being provided with openings 17 to fit over staples 18 on the corresponding sides of the crate. Connected to each hasp 16 by means of a link 19 is a flexible tongue 20, which, after the hasp has been placed over the staple 18, is adapted to be thrust through the staple, thereby forming a lock or retainer which prevents the hasp from moving out of engagement with the staple 18. In this way, the top is held at both sides securely locked to the crate. However, by disconnecting one of the hasps, the remaining hasp will act as a hinge to enable the top to be thrown back, in order to obtain access to the contents of the crate.

After the crate has been emptied, and it is desired to return the same to the shipper, the top and bottom of the crate are removed and the four sides of the crate are then folded flatwise together upon their hinged connection, the top and bottom. of the crate being inserted between the collapsed body of the crate, in a manner illustrated in Fig. 10.

What is claimed is:

A folding crate comprising tour side sections hinged together at all four corners of the crate, a detachable bottom, bottom supporting cleats fastened to opposite sides of the crate adjacent to the bottom edges thereof, a fixed stop on one side section under Which one edge of the bottom fits,

and a pivoted latch on the opposite side section of the crate movable in a vertical plane into and out of engagement with the bottom for holding the latter down on the underlying cleat, a top, and means for detachably fastening the top to the crate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLAYBORN L. PERDUE. Witnesses:

ELMER E. EVANS, CHARLIE R. MORGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

